Boot tongue



March 9,1937. T WALTERS f 2,073,542

BOOT TONGUE Filed OOL 30, 1955 Inventor J. T WALTERS Fi-I3. 4. BaMa/y.

Attovneqs Patented Mar. 9, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BOOT TONGUEytion of Ontario, Canada Application October 30, 1935, Serial No. 47,450In Canada February 9, 1935 1 Claim.

My invention relates to improvements in boot tongues, and the object ofthe invention is to devise a tongue particularly adaptable to hockeyboots in which the gathering or puckering of the tongue over the instepis prevented and the consequent discomfort and the obstruction to thefree flexing of the foot at the ankle avoided, and in which the lateraldisplacement of the tongue within the boot is also prevented, and itconsists lo of a tongue body formed in two pieces, the inner opposingedges of which are cut to conform to the centre line of the shoe last,stitching connecting the opposing edges together, and a protecting stripoverlying the seam formed by said stitches and stitched along eachlongitudinal edge to the pieces forming the tongue body as hereinaftermore particularly explained.

Fig. l is a longitudinal section through a boot showing the tongue inelevation.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail face view of the tongue.

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section through Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a transverse section through Fig. 2 and showing the positionof the foot.

Fig. 5 shows two pieces forming the tongue body separated apart and inelevation.

Fig. 6 is a similar view to Fig. 5 of the protective strip.

In the drawing like characters of referenceV indicate correspondingparts in each figure.v

l and 2 are two portions of a tongue, the inner edges Ix and 2x of whichare cut in the form of a compound curve toy follow the contour of thecentre line of the boot last. These edges are conneced together in aseam 3 drawing the upper part inwardly into narrow arched form betweenthe points 4 and 5 which gradually broadens out below the point 5 to fitthe instep.

6 is a felt lining which is also formed in two pieces which are out atthe inner edges to follow the contour of the last and when stitchedtogether conform to the shape of the tongue to which they are connectedby edge stitching 1.

8 is a protective strip formed of leather which 5V extends over the seam3 covering the same from end to end so as to prevent the stitches of theseam wearing through by rubbing when within the boot.

A tongue constructed as above described ts 1o the instep of the foot andthat portion of the leg directly above the instep so that all lateralmovement of the tongue within the boot is prevented and by being shapedlongitudinally to t the wearer there is no tendency for the tongue 15 togather or pucker transversely just above the instep by repeated forwardflexing of the foot which in time prevents the free flexing of the footrendering the movement slow and the boot uncomfortable. 20

The strip 8 also serves to reinforce the centre line of the tongue byforming a centre ridge which stiffens the tongue and further preventsthe crimping or gathering of the tongue over the instep. 25

What I claim as my invention ist- A boot tongue comprising a tongue bodyformed in two portions, the inner opposing edges of which are cut intocompound curves each comprising a central convex portion and end con- 30cave portions, stitching forming a centre seal connecting the curvedportions together, and a covering strip extending over the seam, saidcovering strip being wider at its centre portion than at its ends, andstitching extending along 35 each longitudinal strip edge for securingthe strip to the corresponding underlying tongue portion.

JOHN THOMAS WALTERS.

